Useful Resources
FREE Data Policy Builder Tool
A FREE Data Policy Builder tool has been launched by Digital Care Hub. The first tool within a series of 11 policy builders - Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) approaches have become increasingly popular in the Adult Social Care Sector as they allow organisations to reduce the costs associated with providing staff with devices. But only half of the care providers that use BYOD have a policy.
This interactive tool will help you understand and tailor your data protection policies and make it easy to build something that reflects your organisation and meets DSPT standards.
Rowcroft Hospice: How to help your residents and carers with planning at end of life
Planning for the Future Hub
“I wish I’d known that before” is a phrase frequently heard from people facing dying, and by carers and families who are bereaved.
Sometimes health and social care workers are asked, or open up conversations, about end-of-life decisions and plans, but may be unsure where to look for specific help. It’s one of the reasons Rowcroft Hospice developed a ‘Planning for the Future Hub’ for people facing significant and serious illness and their families, or anyone seeking good information and help.
As a visitor to the hub, you can choose which of the twelve topics you would like further help with. You will then be guided to good quality organisations, documentation, films and resources. Curious? You might be surprised by some inclusions, for example a ‘pet care and comfort guide’, which can be used to share personal details of a beloved pet ensuring their best future care.
You can visit the hub here.
Christie & Co. Care Market Review 2025
Christie & Co has now launched its Care Market Review 2025 report.
With an ageing population that is forecast to exceed 16 million people aged 65+ within a decade, how is the UK care market performing, and is it able to keep up with the demand for services?
The report includes the results of an extensive operator sentiment survey, fee rate analysis, and updates on the care home investment and development market.
Skills for Care: Size and Structure Report
Skills for Care has launched its annual size and structure of the adult social care sector and workforce in England report.
Key findings include:
- The report found that the adult social care sector has continued to grow between April 2024 and March 2025, despite a significant fall in the number of international recruits.
- The new figures show that the vacancy rate for 2024/25 fell to 7%. This was a return to similar levels seen prior to 2021/22, when the rate had peaked at 10.5%. The number of filled posts grew by 3.4% to 1.6 million.
- It’s now estimated that there are 1.47m people working in adult social care in England.
NHS Devon Webinar: Improving Continuity of Care - Understanding the Gold Standards Framework and Digital Treatment Escalation Plans
Do take a look at this care home webinar, hosted by NHS Devon at the end of June 2025.
International Recruitment Figures
Here is the current position on International Recruitment in the Devon area. This information has been provided by the NHS and local authority.
IPC Bulletin for Care Homes: 'Keeping Hydrated'
The latest Bulletin, 'Keeping Hydrated' from the Community Infection Prevention and Control Team for Care Homes.
Skills for Care: LGBTQ+ Learning Framework
This Learning Framework for working with LGBTQ+ people in later life aims to provide a base for identifying the insights, knowledge, understanding and skills that the social care workforce need to help them work affirmatively, inclusively and effectively with individuals from gender and sexually diverse communities.
The Toolkit expands on the LGBTQ+ Learning Framework, offering additional guidance and practical learning activities for organisations looking to initiate or strengthen their commitment to LGBTQ+ affirmative care.
Skills for Care have also published a series of case studies that cover a range of topics and demonstrate how care providers have used the framework to make positive changes within their services.
RWK Goodman: Immigration Helpline
RWK Goodman has been funded by South West Councils to provide an Immigration Legal Helpline for care providers in Devon.
As part of this offer, providers can receive up to 30 minutes free advice on any immigration matter and will have access to legal updates on changes.
To access the helpline, providers simply need to email immigrationhelpline@rwkgoodman.com with their query. It will then be passed to a member of the Immigration Team and a call arranged within a couple of days. Usually, via Teams.
Community Infection Prevention and Control Policies
This Bulletin from the Community IPC Team contains information on the new set of Community Infection Prevention and Control Policies for Care Homes.
New Counselling Scheme: CMM Support
CMM is pleased to announce the launch of a new counselling scheme, CMM Support, to improve the mental health of registered managers in adult social care.
Working in partnership with the National Counselling & Psychotherapy Society (NCPS), CMM’s new low-cost counselling scheme gives registered managers access to trained professionals who can help with navigating stress, grief, trauma, anxiety and more in a confidential space.
Whilst the counselling is offered at a reduced rate, providers can get in touch to fund free or subsidised therapy to their registered managers whilst maintaining the anonymity the scheme provides. This gives providers peace of mind knowing their managers have access to proper support with their mental health, as well as helping with recruitment and retention. Those interested in providing this to their staff should contact lisa.werthmann@carechoices.co.uk.
The counselling scheme is accessible via the CMM website.
Devon Care Coordination Hub (CareCo)
The ICB understands the importance of timely access to specialist support and guidance to ensure that you are able to care for your residents within the home and prevent avoidable admissions to hospital. To help support you with this, the ICB has been able to arrange for Care Homes in Devon to have direct access to the Devon Care Coordination service. This is a service that offers timely access and guidance to a team of clinical specialists with direct access to local service offers and can ensure we are able to offer both guidance and onward access to wrap around support services as part of our local offer. This has been put in place to ensure that you only call 999 for an ambulance when it is absolutely needed. The service operates from 8am until 8pm, 7 days a week.
Please find below a poster to raise awareness with your teams, and information on who to contact - GP, Care Coordination, 111 or 999:
The HIVE: Working together to bring FREE access to all members
All care homes that are part of the Devon Care Homes Collaborative can access the HIVE, Torbay and South Devon’s Learning Management system, for FREE.
Have you signed up yet? If not, click here to register your details and gain access to 100s of digital, virtual and classroom training opportunities.
Key Contacts for Care Homes
Please see below an updated list of DCC contacts for care homes:
Please see below an updated contact list for in hours and out of hours services for care homes, covering the Plymouth, West Devon and South Hams areas:
CHRISTIE & CO: DEVON’S CARE HOMES - A MARKET OUTLOOK ON DEMAND AND PROVISION
This report outlines the current stock, demand, and opportunities surrounding elderly care home beds across the South West, with a focus on the Devon market.
Click here to view the report.
Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) Support
The Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) is dedicated to safeguarding the public by aiding employers in making safer recruitment decisions and barring individuals who pose risks to vulnerable groups.
DBS offers comprehensive support through its Outreach Service, which includes answering queries, providing advice on safer recruitment, and delivering workshops and webinars. These sessions cover topics such as understanding DBS check levels, the Enhanced DBS application process, and the legal duty to refer individuals for barring. DBS operates under several legislative frameworks, ensuring their services are robust and legally compliant across England, Wales, Jersey, Guernsey, Isle of Man, and Northern Ireland. For more detailed information, check out the Introduction to DBS Regional Outreach and Barring Overview.
For tailored support, please contact Mel Berry at mel.berry2@dbs.gov.uk or the regional outreach team at DBSregionaloutreach@dbs.gov.uk
Driving theory webinars and self-study modules
The East of England Strategic Migration Partnership has developed some webinars and self-study modules on driving theory for migrants.
They are available at https://smp.eelga.gov.uk/migrant-workers/eon/driving-theory/.
Menu Planning and Food Service for Care Homes
The British Dietetic Association and the National Association of Care Catering have developed the first menu planning and food service guidelines for care homes for older adults. The aim is to support residential and nursing care homes to provide high quality food and drink services for residents in their care.
Visit the BDA website to learn more!
Oral Health
Some useful resources from Knowledge Oral Healthcare, designed to help care workers maximise the oral health and wellbeing of those living in care homes.
Falls Prevention and Post Falls Care
Visit the SWASFT website for some helpful resources on falls, including general advice and post falls assessment and guidance. Click here to see the latest SWASFT falls activity and data review.
Another quick and useful guide can be found on the SCIE website.
Dementia Digital Health App: Memory Lane Games
Memory Lane Games is an app to help with reminiscences, aiming to improve lives affected by Dementia and Alzheimer's disease. It can be mirrored to a smart TV to be used as a fun quiz and is a gentle way to start conversations, so please have a go.
MS-UK Support Services
MS-UK is a national charity supporting people living with multiple sclerosis (MS) to live healthier and happier lives.
The charity offers a variety of services such as the MS-UK helpline, which is there to provide emotional support and share relevant information about symptoms, treatments, lifestyle choices and more. The helpline is available to carers and professionals and open from Monday to Friday, 10am until 4pm. Please telephone 0800 783 0518 or email info@ms-uk.org.
Support for Managers
The Skills for Care website has a wealth of information to support Managers. Check out their introductory modules and webinars, covering a range of topics, and the Local and Deputy Manager Networks. The website offers advice on CQC inspections and includes guidance on managerial development, managing people and managing a service. There are resources on how to support equality, diversity and inclusivity in the workplace and there is also a useful wellbeing guide and advice line for help with recruitment, leadership and CQC expectations.
Person-centred care for older people in care homes
This resource, created by the Social Care Institute for Excellence, helps providers and managers develop a personalised approach to care in their homes.
Arts in Care Homes
This resource offers care workers practical ideas on how to get care home residents more engaged in arts.
EHCH Study Paper
Do take a look at this research article, A Multiple Case Study Exploring Person-Centred Care in Care Homes, that has recently been published in the Health & Social Care in the Community Journal.
Blue Light Card
Register today to get access to a range of online and high street discounts. Available to all social care staff, the cost is £4.99 for a two year membership.
Childcare Choices
Whether you have toddlers or teens, you could be entitled to Government help with childcare costs.
Exercise in Care (chair-based exercise classes)
Exercise in Care provide sessions to over 60 care homes in Devon. Their sessions are science-backed and enjoyment led, with adaptations for all abilities.
Contact Jordan to book your FREE trial session today!
Tel: 07429570254
Motion Picture Licensing Company (MPLC) Letter Template
Letter template from Care England in response to the MPLC license.
Smart Technology in Care Homes
Explore these resources for help in setting up and using Alexa devices, covering activities like playing music, and setting reminders. Access a variety of materials, including e-learning modules, step-by-step instruction leaflets and privacy posters.
You can use these resources online, in print or listen to them in audio format, with options in multiple languages. For a personalised touch, customise them by adding pictures and then print for a uniquely tailored experience.
You can also view the following blog posts:
Smart Technology in Care Homes: October 2023
Smart Technology in Care Homes: November 2023
Smart Technology in Care Homes: December 2023
Smart Technology in Care Homes: January 2024
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